Magnetic shape-memory effect in SrRuO$_3$

Abstract

Like most perovskites, SrRuO$_3$ exhibits structural phase transitions associated with rotations of the RuO$_6$ octahedra. The application of moderate magnetic fields in the ferromagnetically ordered state allows one to fully control these structural distortions, although the ferromagnetic order occurs at six times lower temperature than the structural distortion. Our neutron diffraction and macroscopic measurements unambiguously show that magnetic fields rearrange structural domains, and that for the field along a cubic [110]$_c$ direction a fully detwinned crystal is obtained. Subsequent heating above the Curie temperature causes a magnetic shape-memory effect, where the initial structural domains recover.